Cross-sections of Nigerian energy consumers in the Federal Capital Territory decry fuel pump under-dispensing, urging relevant authorities to intensify monitoring of filling stations to ensure accuracy of products being sold to that accurate fuel was being sold to unwary consumers
Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect
Sequel to alleged pump under dispensing of fuel to consumers, several motorists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have accused some fuel stations of adjusting their fuel pumps.
The concerned energy consumers said the development had made them to not have value for their money.
It was gathered the affected motorists also described the trade practice as an act of wickedness for the fuel stations to adjust their fuel pumps fraudulently in order to make extra cash.
They equally said Nigerians were really going through a difficult time in the economy.
The development has forced several motorists to park their cars as they could no longer afford to fuel them, agency report said.
Some of the motorists at Dei-Dei, Central Area, Dutse, Nyanya, Mararaba and Kubwa areas of the FCT, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria.
Ladi Odika said she observed that several pump attendants, who dispensed petroleum products increasingly cheated consumers through pump adjustments.
Odija also noted that some petrol station attendants could do all kinds of things, including blocking motorists from seeing their meters by introducing items to them to buy.
She stated: “Some attendants will make compliments on motorists in order to cause confusion or distract them.”
Odika, therefore, urged regulatory authorities to intervene in the matter in regard to the hikes in fuel prices and economic hardship in Nigeria.
She related her experience: “When I buy fuel at some filling stations, I notice my fuel guage does not rise, but when I buy at filling stations like MRS or NNPC, my guage will rise.
“The hike of fuel is causing a lot of hardship and when you buy fuel, you can’t get the value for your money.”
Relating his experience also, Abdul Danladi, said he often patronised a filling station along Dutse but he suspected that the attendants had adjusted the pumps to under-dispense the product directly.
Danladi said: “Now, I use a 25-litre jerry can to buy fuel. The filling station meter showed that they supplied me with 25 litres of the product but it did not fill-up.
“I insisted that the jerry can should be filled before paying. After all the arguments that attracted many people, the attendant complied and I paid.”
He urged relevant authorities to intensify monitoring of filling stations to ensure that accurate fuel was being sold to consumers.
Likewise, Mrs. Rejoice Achi, an energy consumer, said she preferred to patronise the major marketers because their meters are accurate and not under-dispensing petroleum products.
Report also indicated that for some reasons, commercial motorists in Kubwa prefer to patronise major marketers’ filling stations considered reliable, while independent marketers’ filling stations were deserted, report noted.
NNPCL, NMDPRA to intensify monitoring, say consumers
Still, Chidi Onu, believed that major marketers’ filling stations were more trustworthy in their fuel calibration, whereas independent marketers’ filling stations often adjusted their meters to dispense lesser quantities.
Lateef Ojerinde said he only patronised independent marketers when he was in a hurry and could not withstand the queues at major filing stations.
Ojerinde said: “Some filling stations like MRS and NNPC are still fair; when you buy, you see the difference.
“But some private ones are notorious, and if you complain, their attendants will insult you.”
He as well petitioned industry regulators to carry out routine checks on filling stations to ensure that motorists got value for their money.
Dr. Aliyu Ilias, a development expert and customer experience management specialist, urged the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to intensify monitoring.
The expert also said enforcement activities should be conducted at filling stations across the country to curb alleged fuel under-dispensing practices.
He equally advised the industry regulatory agency to deploy more effective oversight mechanisms, including the use of “mystery shoppers” to independently verify the quantity of fuel dispensed to customers.
Aliyu as well recommended surprise inspections, where regulators would visit fuel stations with calibrated measuring equipment to confirm whether consumers received the correct quantity of petroleum products paid for.
He stated: “Imagine I want to buy fuel worth N20,000, but they gave me N15,000 worth of fuel.
“That would have taken a lot of purchasing power from me.”
The expert further action that such practices deprived consumers of value for money, and worsened the financial burden on the ordinary Nigerians already struggling with soaring living costs.
Aliyu urged the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and other relevant agencies to collaborate in strengthening oversight within the sector.
He noted: “All these people need to be well monitored because anything you don’t monitor, you cannot manage.”
IPMAN: Fuel pump under-dispensing threatens energy security
Chinedu Ukadike, National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN), condemned the alleged diversion and sharp practices in the distribution of petroleum products.
Ukadike, warned that such activities would threaten investors’ confidence and Nigeria’s energy security.
The National Publicity Secretary of IPMAN expressed concerns over the increasing complaints from motorists and communities, regarding fuel supply practices at some filling stations.
The rising cost of petroleum products has made transparency and accountability in the sector more important than ever, stated he.
“It is not a very good practice considering the cost of petroleum products now and consumers deserve optimal services both in the quality and quantity of fuel dispensed,” he said.
He said it would work in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to address the issue through sensitisation and professional training for petroleum pump attendants.
He explained that proposed organisation of workshops aimed at educating fuel attendants on ethical practices and proper dispensing procedures to curb fraudulent activities in the sector would be organised.
He also noted that reports of inaccurate fuel dispensing and related misconduct could discourage investment in the petroleum industry and undermine public trust.
“There are communities that will tell you that some stations are fair and always correct, while others are accused of sharp practices,” he said.
The National Publicity Secretary of IPAM as well reaffirmed its commitment to promoting integrity and professionalism in the downstream petroleum sector of the economy.
Ukadike urged marketers, operators to adhere strictly to approved standards and regulations.
IPMAN, he said, would continue engaging stakeholders to ensure that consumers receive value for their money amid the current economic realities.
In the same vein, George Ena-Ita, Director of Public Affairs Department of Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) reacting to the development, pledged to investigate allegations of fuel quantity and quality irregularities at retail filling stations in Abuja.
Ena-Ita, Director of Public Affairs Department of NMDPRA, also commented that the agency operates an on-field surveillance framework, designed to detect anomalies in fuel dispensing and storage systems across retail outlets.
He explained the field teams routinely inspect underground tanks, pumps and meters to ensure consumers receive the right quantity and quality of petroleum products.
“Normally, we implement an on-field surveillance framework designed to detect these anomalies.
“Our field teams are very thorough in these retail outlets and subject their underground tanks, pumps and meters to quality and quantity tests to ensure that the public is well served,” he said.
According to him, monitoring every fuel station across the country remained challenging, making public complaints and third-party reports critical to enforcement efforts.
Ena-Ita, therefore, assured Nigerian energy consumers that the latest complaints had been forwarded to the Abuja/FCT regional office.
He described this as an “operational assessment” of the facilities in question.
Ena-Ita also urged members of the public to continue reporting suspected infractions, noting that community participation strengthens oversight efforts and helped identify stations that may be violating operational standards